From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is the Daily.

Today, there's no knock on the door, just the sound of the SWAT team smashing through it.

And it's happening all over the country. A year-long investigation by the Times

reveals a police tactic that has led to dozens of avoidable deaths, gruesome injuries, and costly legal settlements.

It's Monday, March 20th.

Kevin, can you tell me the story of Hank McGee?

Hank McGee is a 28-year-old who lives in Burleson County, Texas. It's in Central Texas.

Kind of a dusty place.

Kevin Sack is an investigative reporter based in Atlanta.

In December of 2013, a friend of his became the confidential informant.

He was a guy that went to jail for probation violation. He was a methodic.

One day, he calls in the Sheriff's Investigator, who arrested him.

You said you wanted to eradicate the problem.

And I've been thinking for the past couple days that maybe I'm putting this position to help you do this.

And says that he's got some information for him.

And he tells him that Hank McGee is growing marijuana hydroponically.

Big girls, small girls, it's kind of small. It's good.

The kind of point. I'm just a legal. Sure.

Weapons are involved. AOR 15, AOR 3.

And his mobile home and his trailer.

I mean, the boy's ready for war. With who? I don't know.

But I'm just giving you that information because if the boy does grab a hold of him going, try not to shoot him.

...